Dark Wolf Deleted Scenes Read online

  A third child pushed between them, even stepping in front of them in spite of their best efforts to keep him back. He was a little taller and stronger than the two girls.

  “They followed me,” Alexandru admitted. “I wanted to see if I could get away without anyone noticing, but they followed me. This is my fault.” Along with a few words, it was more of an impression in their minds.

  Dimitri came up behind her, glancing toward the left. “You know it isn’t safe, Alexandru. Now all of you are in danger.” He spoke sternly. “I’ve sent word to your fathers but I don’t know if they’ll get here in time to help. The vampire is close. I need the three of you to do exactly what I say.”

  All three children nodded their heads almost simultaneously. Alexandru took both of the girl’s hands, his chin up and his shoulders straight. For a moment, Skyler could clearly see his father in him.

  “This isn’t a game,” Dimitri reiterated. “Vampires are extremely dangerous and if they can, they’ll kill you. You didn’t obey your parents, but you must obey me now, do you understand? Not only can you three be killed, but so can our wolves as well as us. You must do as I say.”

  Skyler frowned at him. They get it. They know they screwed up. Look at them, Dimitri. They’re frightened and making them feel terrified even more isn’t going to help.

  Our children must obey at all times. It’s life or death for them. We can’t afford to lose a single child, Skyler. Not one. And not on my watch. I don’t know who was looking after them, but they need better protectors as well as learning obedience. No Carpathian child can take chances like these three. The prince’s son? Gregori’s daughters? This is bull.

  “Dimitri,” Skyler felt her heart jerk. “Look at the ground.”

  Insects poured out of the soil, rushing away from the area. Leaves shriveled and drew back. The smell of rot reached her nose. The children backed into their spot behind the waterfall, one of the girls beginning to weep silently. Skyler signaled to Moonglow to guard them, knowing the presence of the wolf would help to comfort them.

  “We’re going to work now,” she said softly. “My wolf will stay with you and the others will be close. If you need them, call to them and they’ll protect you. Don’t make a sound otherwise, and don’t come out for anyone, not even if you hear your mother or father calling to you. Look to the wolves. If they bare their teeth, it isn’t your parents calling. Do you understand? Can you do that?”

  In her world, two-year-old children didn’t go sneaking out into the forest or mountains on their own and certainly they didn’t have to worry about vampires hunting them. She thought of Ginny and how frightened she must be to live such a half-life where those around her had no knowledge of the monsters she did. For Paul it was the same. They went to school and other children their age laughed and thought about cars, make-up and dating. They had to be aware every moment that not only they, but everyone close to them, were always in danger.

  She wanted to sweep the toddlers into her arms and comfort them, but she had a job to do--a much more important one--to keep them safe.

  She followed Dimitri out of the rocks and watched as he carefully swept his hand over the area to blot out all signs and scents that could possible lead the vampire to the little ones. She took up position at the bottom of the hill, just beneath the small hollowed out space behind the waterfall where the three Carpathian children had taken shelter.

  You have to admit, Dimitri, they hid themselves very well when they realized something hunted them.

  If one of our children deliberately eluded us just to see if they could sneak away, they would be so afraid to ever do it again they’d sit in one spot from weeks.

  She realized he was furious. Dimitri rarely showed anger, but he wanted to shake the three little children. She knew he was afraid for them. Any vampire was dangerous and if this one knew what a prize he had--the son of the prince--he would move heaven and earth to acquire him. The daughters of Gregori would only be a sweet bonus for him.

  We’re not going to allow anything to happen to them, she assured.

  Dimitri extended his arms, signaling to his wolves to leap off. Shadow, his mate, Misty and Sonnet all landed softly, already on the move. The wolves were well versed in the hunt and they spread out, each taking a point. Sonnet suddenly alerted. At the same time, Shadow gave a low growl. Each wolf had turned their head in the opposite direction. Where Shadow’s hair had risen, Sonnet didn’t give indications of alarm, only that something--or someone was approaching.

  Dimitri held up his hand to Skyler to prevent her from moving toward Sonnet. He made a circle with his finger and she nodded, dropping low to start her advance toward the wolf with much more caution while Dimitri moved into position to support Shadow.

  Shadow bared his teeth in a silent snarl and slunk low to the ground, suddenly turning and moving in the same direction as Sonnet.

  The vampire turned away from these children, Dimitri observed, gliding over the ground to catch up with his wolf. He shifted into a matching wolf, large, silent and lethal.

  Do you think he senses us here? Skyler laid her palm gently on the ground once again to read the earth.

  The foul creature had abruptly switched directions and was striding purposefully away from the rocks were the children were hidden behind the waterfall. He’d been making a circle around the area where he’d lost track of them, narrowing it on each loop that he’d made, quartering the ground for clues.

  Skyler marveled that toddlers were powerful enough to hide their tracks--and scent--from a vampire. She was certain Gregori had been instrumental in training them and if so, he’d done a remarkable job. Maybe too good. They seemed to be practicing eluding the ‘enemy’, which was most likely, their babysitter.

  What had made the vampire swerve toward the other side of the rocks? He had doubled back over a area he’d already searched. She kept her palm pressed deep, breathing shallow, concentrating hard on the echo of steps in the soil. They were light. Far too light for an adult. A teen? Travis? Falcon’s son often helped with the children, although never by himself. Skyler couldn’t imagine the prince or Gregori leaving their precious children in the hands of a twelve year old human child.

  Her heart jerked. Another child. It had to be. Very young. He was tracking the other three children and he was out there by himself. He had been so busy following the trail of his friends, that he hadn’t stayed downwind.

  Stefan. Jacques’ boy, Dimitri supplied. I have him in sight. So does the vampire.

  Skyler pushed her way through the dense underbrush and slithered down a narrow dirt trail through the rocks. Can you get to him first? Use your speed, Dimitri. Get the boy out of harm’s way and I’ll take down the vampire with my crossbow. I’m using Ivory’s vampire chemical is on the tips of my arrows. I can do this. Just get the child clear.

  She sent up a silent prayer that he would trust her, believe in her enough to save the boy, not worry that she was adequately trained.

  Be safe, Skyler. Do this just like you practiced.

  Dimitri was gone, sweeping down the mountain like a blurred comet, leaping rocks and avoiding shrubbery and trees to land between the vampire and the boy. Without pausing or missing a step, he swept Stefan into his arms and continued on down the mountainside.

  The vampire threw back his head and roared with rage. He could barely see Dimitri, let alone catch up with him. Skyler strolled out of the brush, her crossbow in hand, a million butterflies storming her stomach, but her breathing was even, air moving in and out of her lungs at a normal rate.

  There were three little children hiding above her and somewhere close, Dimitri, her lifemate, the man who was everything to her counted on her--believed in her. She had gone over the steps a million times in her head, leaving nothing to chance.

  She smiled. Gave a small bow. Her bow remained lowered, presenting no threat to him. She was fast now when she went into action and she saw that she would need to be. Ivory and Razvan had been implacable, even harsh with her and now she understood completely and was grateful for their thoroughness.

  “Good evening, good sir. I’m hunting tonight. My wolves are hungry, but you’re the first game we’ve come across.” Her voice was pitched low and musical, a soothing, nonthreatening tone. The words meant nothing, only a distraction, giving the vampire pause as she threw the stars, tipped in Ivory’s brew into the vampire’s torso. Rapidly throwing, she stuck a row of them from his belt to his shoulder, covering his chest in a straight line.

  Furious the vampire opened his blackened, blood-stained mouth and blew out stinging insects at her. He tore at the stars. They weren’t lethal and did no more than sting, but the chemicals prevented him from shifting.

  Shadow and Misty hit the vampire in the thighs, tearing great chunks of flesh from his legs, ham-stringing him. Thankfully they remembered to spit out the rotting pulp as they danced away. Skyler raced in fast, before the wounded vampire had a chance to recover.

  She slammed her fist deep into the chest, digging for the heart. She’d practiced thousands of times, but it wasn’t the same as feeling her fist pass through muscle and tissue, having the vampire’s acid-like blood burn through her flesh, or smell his fetid breath blasting her face.

  Don’t you dare hesitate! Get that heart the hell out of his chest and throw it a distance away. Now, Skyler!

  Dimitri had never used that particular tone on her, nor had he ever sworn at her before. She closed her fingers around the organ and yanked hard, using her Carpathian strength to drag the heart from the vampire’s body. He gripped her shoulders with both hands, the long fingernail’s stabbing like knives into her body.

  Skyler brought up her knee between his legs and rammed her elbow into his throat in an effort to knock him loose.
He refused to let go, digging deeper with his razor-sharp nails. She threw the heart a distance away and glanced up at the sky.

  Dimitri had already brought in a storm for her. Lightning forked overhead. Ignoring the pain, and the serrated teeth racing toward her neck, she called down the lightning, directing it at the blackened, withered heart. The heart incinerated, was reduced to ash. The wind picked up the ash and blew it away from the mountain.

  The vampire stood, his horrified, red eyes glowing in shock, his claws hooked into her shoulders and his teeth around her neck. She felt the strength run out of him and he began to topple. She hit his arms upward to release her body from the nails buried so deep in her. He fell hard.

  Skyler scrambled away from him and sank down when her feet touched a large rock. Her knees refused to work, no longer holding her up. She swayed gently back and forth to comfort herself, fighting wanting to vomit. The pain was excruciating. She managed to dull it when she remembered she could.

  Dimitri knelt in front of her, gently touching her face, moving her head so he could examine her neck. Stefan’s eyes were large. He looked frightened and very upset that she was injured.

  Gregori, Mikhail and Jacques materialized.

  “They’re up there. Moonglow and Frost are guarding them,” Dimitri said, indicating the stream. “They’re frightened, but none of them are hurt.”

  Gregori dropped down beside Skyler to aid Dimitri in healing her wounds. Jacques took care of burning the vampire before he strode over to his son, his face a mask of fury.

  Mikhail had never looked more intimidating than he did making his way up the mountain to the three runaway children.

  “Thank you,” Gregori murmured when he was certain he had removed any acid or poison the vampire had transferred to Skyler. “We’re deeply indebted to you both and to your wolves.”

  Skyler managed a smile, although all she wanted to do was curl up in Dimitri’s arms. “I’m glad we were here. It was simply chance.”

  Dimitri started to say something, shook his head and pulled Skyler up from the rock. He swept his arm around. “I’m taking her home to rest. We’ll see you later this evening.”

  As he took to the air, Skyler cradled in his arms, he looked down at her. “I’m rethinking my position on children, Skyler.”

  She laughed softly. “I don’t altogether blame you.”

  ~DARK BLOOD: DELETED SCENE 3~

  Gabriel gathered Skyler into his arms and hugged her tightly. “You know, no matter what, you’ll always be my baby. My first. Don’t think because you’re Dimitri’s lifemate that you’re not my child anymore.”

  Skyler hugged him back just as tightly. “I’ll always need a father, Gabriel. A dad. That’s what you are to me. I love Razvan. I know I’ve spent a great deal of time with him and Ivory because of the wolves, and because I want to know him, but you raised me, shaped me, made me the person I am. You and Francesca are my parents.”

  She didn’t feel as though she was in any way betraying or slighting Razvan. He was a good man and she was proud that he was her birth father, but Gabriel and Francesca had taken her in when she was broken and they had worked miracles to fix her.

  Gabriel pulled back after brushing a kiss over the top of her head. “I can’t keep you to myself. Lucian and Jaxon want to visit with you as well. Your mother is resting up before the four of us leave for home. I’m proud of you for telling her that she needs to go home. We want this child and Francesca is having a difficult time.”

  “I’ll see if I can help. You had Gregori take a look at her?”

  He nodded. “There are no parasites, but we seem to have such problems still.”

  “Did you try the flower ceremony?”

  He shook his head. “I believe that is for fertility, not the ability to carry a child. We seem to have no problems with fertility. Francesca can get pregnant, even without the long span between children. We just are unable to complete the pregnancy.”

  Skyler’s heart sank. Her father’s voice had gone a little husky with emotion. He was tall and strong and like Dimitri, she considered him a rock. He feared for their unborn child.

  “Dimitri and I were going to introduce the wolves to Tamara. Perhaps mom would like to meet them,” she ventured.

  He nodded. “I think she’d like that, Skyler.”

  Dimitri, would you mind coming inside to visit with my mother. She’s resting before the trip home. You can bring Tamara in with you.

  We’re on the way. Tamara has found the best place to be is on my shoulders. There was laughter in Dimitri’s voice. He sounded young and relaxed, not at all the serious man he’d been the last few weeks.

  Dimitri ducked low to allow Tamara passage beneath the doorjamb as he came into the house, using long, ground-eating strides to delight the child. She laughed and clutched at his forehead with both hands, her fingers finding the groove marks where the silver chains had been.

  Skyler’s heart fluttered at the sight of him. To her, he would always be handsome, especially with his faded scars. He had suffered terribly, but he never seemed bothered by it, nor, she realized, did he hold a grudge against the Lycans. He simply accepted what had happened to him and moved on.

  The joy on Dimitri’s face as he played with Tamara, was enough to make her want to run into his arms and hold him tightly. Love swept through her so intense she felt the burn of tears. She realized Dimitri was always in the moment. If he fought a vampire, that was exactly what he did. If he made love to her, he was wholly there. If he played with a child, every part of him was focused on that child.

  You’ll make a good father, Dimitri.

  His gaze jumped to her face, the laughter brightening his glacier blue eyes. Her heart stuttered at his look. She felt his love surrounding her, enfolding her and holding her close.

  Gabriel opened the door to Francesca’s resting area. “You’ve got company, Francesca,” he announced and went inside to fuss with her pillows.

  Skyler entered just as Gabriel swept open the heavy curtains blocking out the night. Stars sprang up all over the ceiling, forming the mystical constellations so that the room itself appeared to be outdoors.

  Francesca held out her hand to Skyler, smiling happily. “I’m so glad you came for a visit. I was afraid I wouldn’t see you again before we left.”

  Skyler kissed her mother and sank down on the edge of the bed and taking Francesca’s hand. “Of course I would say goodbye to you, mom, but right now, we’re introducing the wolves to Tamara and thought perhaps you’d enjoy meeting them as well.” She felt for her mother’s pulse, connecting immediately with her heart.

  Francesca was strong. It wasn’t her health that caused concern for the baby.

  “I would love to meet them, Skyler,” Francesca said immediately. “I’m sure Tamara will be thrilled. It isn’t like we get to see Carpathian wolves every day.”

  “Lucian loves wolves,” Gabriel said, sitting on the other side of the bed. “He keeps a pack, although they are brethren, not Carpathian.”

  Skyler stood for a moment and turned in a slow circle. She wore her hunting clothes because they had agreed to show the wolves to Tamara. She wanted her younger sister to see how the wolves traveled as tattoos on her back, yet could guard her, watching behind her.